JACKSON, MI – The former Consumers Energy building in downtown Jackson is to be demolished from the top down, one floor at a time, according to Jackson City Planning Director Barry Hicks.

Crews recently completed gutting the interior of the building, located at 212 W. Michigan Ave. in Jackson, and will begin to demolish the exterior in the near future.

"Crews were inside during the winter months emptying the inside of the building and prepping the outside for demolition," Hicks said. "They'll begin to demolish it from the top down, with rubble being placed on top of the old parking garage to the west of the structure."

The Bay City-based construction firm hired to perform the demolition, Dore and Associates Contracting Inc., signed a contract with the city in 2010.

Hicks said city officials expect the structure to be completely demolished by September or October.

The contract calls for the project to be completed by Sept. 2013. The $2.29 million project is primarily funded with EPA money awarded to the city and county brownfield redevelopment authorities.

The demolition was delayed March 2012 when a contractor was found to have stolen copper pipes from the structure.

"We have since straightened everything out with the construction firm and are moving forward," Hicks said.

The city bought the 12-story structure for $300,000 in 2004, a year after the utility moved its headquarters to the other side of downtown. The city spent tens of thousands of dollars maintaining the building while trying to find a new tenant and ultimately decided to tear the structure down.

"It's been a long process," Hicks said. "We're definitely going to be happy when it's all over."

Contact Will Forgrave at wforgrav@mlive.com or 517-262-7554. Follow him on Twitter at @WillForgrave.